2008 Woodie Awards
Each day before she begins her class, Professor Maria Otte bows her head, clasps her hands and prays out loud. Otte has performed her pre-class prayer ritual since she began teaching at Marist in 1999, but recently her actions have attracted criticism.
Declining numbers for fraternities and sororities could eventually cause closures to certain chapters if minimum requirements are not met. Marist College's Greek life is significantly smaller than those of large universities, and the numbers of pledges are now widening the gap.
Marist College provides no special housing privileges to members of Greek organizations on campus and now the city of Poughkeepsie is giving Greek students the boot as well. Greek life was founded at Marist College in the late eighties starting with the establishment of Kappa Lambda Psi in 1987, a sorority and the first of its kind to Marist students.
The Marist College Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Handbell Choir will strike up a festive tune this Sunday, performing in back-to-back concerts in the Nelly Goletti Theater. With any luck, said Band President Matt De Pace, the dual performances will be an opportunity for the band to provide a little seasonal cheer and have a successful fundraiser in the process.
A local club called The Loft is this year's hotspot for the freshman class. The club, which has an "18 to enter, 21 to drink" policy, is attracting more freshmen than ever before, according to employees and students. Senior John Palmer is a bartender at The Loft.